Headliner Chicago
  • Video of the Day
    • Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning - - Editor's Review
    • Mother's Day suggestions in chicagoland
    • how to celebrate st. Patrick's day the chicago way
    • Paddington in Peru - Editor's Review
    • An interview with Benjamin Ingrosso
    • Queer - Editor's Review
    • Wicked - Editor's Review
    • ARC music festival 2024
    • Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Editor's Review
    • Labor Day Fun - the unofficial end of BRAT summer
    • Lollapalooza 2024 Recap
    • Pride events in chicagoland
    • Star Wars Celebrations for May the 4th
    • Mother's Day shows in Chicagoland
    • How to best experience Monday's solar eclipse
    • It's time to visit Rosemont this Spring & Summer
    • Possible surprise guests at Lollapalooza 2024
    • Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire - Editor's Review
    • The editor's predictions for lollapalooza 2024
    • A Preview of Chicago's Concert Festivals
    • Spring & Summer shows in Las Vegas
  • The Weekender
  • Theatre Reviews
    • & Juliet
    • Network
    • Little Bear Ridge Road
    • Death Becomes Her
    • The Thanksgiving Play
    • Mrs. Doubtfire - A Musical Comedy
    • Boop! The Musical
    • La Cage Aux Folles
  • Archives
    • Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts
    • where to celebrate "the Big Game" in chicago
    • A trip to Delightful Pastries - A paczki paradise in Chicago.
    • Chicago celebrates Madonna's Tour Stop
    • Wonka - Editor's Review
    • Mean Girls - Editor's Review
    • Chicagoland's Winter Holiday Pop-Ups
    • Saltburn - Editor's Review
    • A First Look at the 59th Chicago Film Festival
    • Unique movie experiences in Chicagoland
    • Trolls Band Together - Editor's Review
    • Family fun activities in Chicagoland
    • Moulin Rouge! The Musical!
    • Barbie - Editor's Review
    • Halloween Celebrations in the Chicagoland Area
    • Moulin Rouge! The Musical!
    • Hocus Pocus 2 - Editor's Review
    • Top Gun: Maverick - Editor's Review
    • The Lost City - Editor's Review
    • I Want You Back - Editor's Review
    • Top 10 Headliner Chicago Videos of 2023
    • how to celebrate st. Patrick's day the chicago way
    • POTUS
    • Marry Me - Editor's Review
    • A sneak preview of the reeling film fest
    • Subsurface - Editor's Review
    • King James
    • Haunted Mansion - Editor's Review
    • Scream - Editor's Review
    • Encanto - Editor's Review
    • Scream 6 - Editor's Review
    • Good Night, Oscar
    • A Recipe for Disaster
    • MJ: the Musical
    • Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
    • Hamilton
    • Spooky Weekend Guide for Kids and Families
    • how to celebrate galentine's day in Chicagoland
    • Tiffany - interview
    • Time Out Market
    • A Sneak Preview of the 17th Annual Chicago Restaurant Week
    • Chicagoland celebrates Elvis Presley's 89th Birthday
    • Top 10 Headliner Chicago Videos of 2022
    • Holiday Shows in Chicagoland
    • Thema Houston - Interview
    • Let's Celebrate Taylor Swift the Chicago way!
    • The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party
    • Museum of Illusions
    • Love Actually? An Unauthorized Musical Parody
    • Jay Sethi - Diageo Beer Company (Guinness Tap Room)
    • Movie picks for National Cinema Day
    • FREE TICKETS - I Want You Back - SNEEK PREVIEW
    • 57th Annual Chicago International Film Festival
    • Halloween Films Set in Illinois
    • Dear Evan Hansen - Editor's Review
    • Summer theatre performances for kids
    • Disney's Frozen
    • The Green Knight - Editor's Review
    • ARC Music Festival - Editor's Review
    • The Tomorrow War - Editor's Review
    • Wolfgang - Editor's Review
    • A Christmas Story Christmas - Editor's Review
    • Museum of Illusions
    • Swissotel's Santa Suite
    • Explore magical fun in Chicago this summer
    • To-Go Valentine's Day menu from Chicagoland hot spots
    • Top 10 Headliner Chicago Videos of 2021
    • 10 Acts to See at Lollapalooza
    • New Year's Eve Outfit - A trip to Primark
    • No Hard Feelings - Editor's Review
    • Family Shows & Musicals Coming to Chicagoland
    • Elton John at Lollapalooza?
    • Theatre Camp - Editor's Review
    • St. Patrick's Day Events in Chicago
    • Cinco De Mayo in Chicago
    • Mafia Mamma - Editor's Review
    • Disney's The Little Mermaid - Editor's Review
    • Chicago is the home for great comedy this February
    • Santa Suite, breakfast with Santa & more at Swissotel this holiday season
    • Chevy Chase coming to suburban Raising Cane's for holiday lighting
    • Chicago is about to become "Harry's House"
    • Park Ridge's Pickwick Theatre is closing
    • Chicagoland Pride Celebrations
    • SPOILER ALERT: Gaga's Chromatica Ball preview & setlist
    • Chicagoland's Winter Holiday Pop-Ups
    • Lollapalooza - Surprise Guests & Backstage Celebs
    • Etty Farrell on favorite Lollapalooza performance & special memory with Dua Lipa
    • A sneak preview of the Reeling Film Festival
    • Kick off the weekend with these Chicago holiday traditions
    • Concert Review - The Smashing Pumpkins at the Metro
    • CONCERT REVIEW: Dua Lipa
    • Revisiting Lady Gaga's Favorite Chicago Spots
  • About Dad Time
    • Despicable Me 4 - Editor's Review
    • chicagoland summer activities for kids
    • Kung Fu Panda 4 - Editor's Review
    • Chicagoland Kid-Friendly Events in March
    • Spring break ideas for a chicago staycation
    • Visit St. Charles this February

Love Actually parody spills the British tea in this often hysterical musical comedy

THEATRE REVIEW
Love Actually?  An Unauthorized Musical Parody
By Andy Sinclair
Headliner Chicago


PictureThe cast of Love Actually? A Unauthorized Musical Parody
For many cinephiles, the months of November and December are a time for annual visits from George Bailey, Susan Walker, Clark W. Griswold, and, since 2003, a wide range of British film royalty in the seminal modern classic Love Actually.  This ensemble film, written and directed by Richard Curtis, is not only a celebration of romance, Christmas, and farcical English humor; it is also a template ripe for ridicule. 

Eighteen years later, Chicago is given a hilarious holiday gift in Love Actually?  The Unauthorized Musical Parody.  This often hysterical and low-brow comedy offers mindless,  escapist fun for those who need a break from the holiday season.  That is, if you are familiar with the film.  For those who have not experienced the interweaving storylines of this holiday import, this humor may land with a thud.

This reviewer was pleasantly surprised to see every character, storyline, and almost every nuance of the film packaged tightly in this 85-minute musical featuring a cast of six young and vibrant Chicago actors.  This tight-knit ensemble - who play over 50 roles and change into over 140 different costumes - offer enough talent, energy, and specificity to their character choices to overcome some of the weaker song or script moments.  Actors Christopher Wayland (who offers the best Alan Rickman and Liam Neeson impressions I’ve heard),  Ann Delaney (as Emma Thompson) and Amanda Walker (as Kiera Knightley, chin and all) are particular standouts of a very impressive cast.  The scenic design by Joshua Warner is equally impressive in capturing the spirit and style of the movie, while allowing for efficient transitions.

Does the pace drag in the last half hour?  Yes.  Could the story use a few less songs?  Perhaps.  Will you have fun?  Absolutely.  This frothy theatre cocktail is the ideal combination of naughty fun and self-aware humor.  This is the perfect date night excursion or friend’s night out to celebrate a movie many actually love.


3 stars (out of four)
​

Love Actually?  An Unauthorized Musical Parody
​
Limited Engagement
Now Playing until January 2, 2022

Apollo Theatre Chicago
2550 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
www.apollochicago.com


Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Video of the Day
    • Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning - - Editor's Review
    • Mother's Day suggestions in chicagoland
    • how to celebrate st. Patrick's day the chicago way
    • Paddington in Peru - Editor's Review
    • An interview with Benjamin Ingrosso
    • Queer - Editor's Review
    • Wicked - Editor's Review
    • ARC music festival 2024
    • Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Editor's Review
    • Labor Day Fun - the unofficial end of BRAT summer
    • Lollapalooza 2024 Recap
    • Pride events in chicagoland
    • Star Wars Celebrations for May the 4th
    • Mother's Day shows in Chicagoland
    • How to best experience Monday's solar eclipse
    • It's time to visit Rosemont this Spring & Summer
    • Possible surprise guests at Lollapalooza 2024
    • Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire - Editor's Review
    • The editor's predictions for lollapalooza 2024
    • A Preview of Chicago's Concert Festivals
    • Spring & Summer shows in Las Vegas
  • The Weekender
  • Theatre Reviews
    • & Juliet
    • Network
    • Little Bear Ridge Road
    • Death Becomes Her
    • The Thanksgiving Play
    • Mrs. Doubtfire - A Musical Comedy
    • Boop! The Musical
    • La Cage Aux Folles
  • Archives
    • Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts
    • where to celebrate "the Big Game" in chicago
    • A trip to Delightful Pastries - A paczki paradise in Chicago.
    • Chicago celebrates Madonna's Tour Stop
    • Wonka - Editor's Review
    • Mean Girls - Editor's Review
    • Chicagoland's Winter Holiday Pop-Ups
    • Saltburn - Editor's Review
    • A First Look at the 59th Chicago Film Festival
    • Unique movie experiences in Chicagoland
    • Trolls Band Together - Editor's Review
    • Family fun activities in Chicagoland
    • Moulin Rouge! The Musical!
    • Barbie - Editor's Review
    • Halloween Celebrations in the Chicagoland Area
    • Moulin Rouge! The Musical!
    • Hocus Pocus 2 - Editor's Review
    • Top Gun: Maverick - Editor's Review
    • The Lost City - Editor's Review
    • I Want You Back - Editor's Review
    • Top 10 Headliner Chicago Videos of 2023
    • how to celebrate st. Patrick's day the chicago way
    • POTUS
    • Marry Me - Editor's Review
    • A sneak preview of the reeling film fest
    • Subsurface - Editor's Review
    • King James
    • Haunted Mansion - Editor's Review
    • Scream - Editor's Review
    • Encanto - Editor's Review
    • Scream 6 - Editor's Review
    • Good Night, Oscar
    • A Recipe for Disaster
    • MJ: the Musical
    • Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
    • Hamilton
    • Spooky Weekend Guide for Kids and Families
    • how to celebrate galentine's day in Chicagoland
    • Tiffany - interview
    • Time Out Market
    • A Sneak Preview of the 17th Annual Chicago Restaurant Week
    • Chicagoland celebrates Elvis Presley's 89th Birthday
    • Top 10 Headliner Chicago Videos of 2022
    • Holiday Shows in Chicagoland
    • Thema Houston - Interview
    • Let's Celebrate Taylor Swift the Chicago way!
    • The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party
    • Museum of Illusions
    • Love Actually? An Unauthorized Musical Parody
    • Jay Sethi - Diageo Beer Company (Guinness Tap Room)
    • Movie picks for National Cinema Day
    • FREE TICKETS - I Want You Back - SNEEK PREVIEW
    • 57th Annual Chicago International Film Festival
    • Halloween Films Set in Illinois
    • Dear Evan Hansen - Editor's Review
    • Summer theatre performances for kids
    • Disney's Frozen
    • The Green Knight - Editor's Review
    • ARC Music Festival - Editor's Review
    • The Tomorrow War - Editor's Review
    • Wolfgang - Editor's Review
    • A Christmas Story Christmas - Editor's Review
    • Museum of Illusions
    • Swissotel's Santa Suite
    • Explore magical fun in Chicago this summer
    • To-Go Valentine's Day menu from Chicagoland hot spots
    • Top 10 Headliner Chicago Videos of 2021
    • 10 Acts to See at Lollapalooza
    • New Year's Eve Outfit - A trip to Primark
    • No Hard Feelings - Editor's Review
    • Family Shows & Musicals Coming to Chicagoland
    • Elton John at Lollapalooza?
    • Theatre Camp - Editor's Review
    • St. Patrick's Day Events in Chicago
    • Cinco De Mayo in Chicago
    • Mafia Mamma - Editor's Review
    • Disney's The Little Mermaid - Editor's Review
    • Chicago is the home for great comedy this February
    • Santa Suite, breakfast with Santa & more at Swissotel this holiday season
    • Chevy Chase coming to suburban Raising Cane's for holiday lighting
    • Chicago is about to become "Harry's House"
    • Park Ridge's Pickwick Theatre is closing
    • Chicagoland Pride Celebrations
    • SPOILER ALERT: Gaga's Chromatica Ball preview & setlist
    • Chicagoland's Winter Holiday Pop-Ups
    • Lollapalooza - Surprise Guests & Backstage Celebs
    • Etty Farrell on favorite Lollapalooza performance & special memory with Dua Lipa
    • A sneak preview of the Reeling Film Festival
    • Kick off the weekend with these Chicago holiday traditions
    • Concert Review - The Smashing Pumpkins at the Metro
    • CONCERT REVIEW: Dua Lipa
    • Revisiting Lady Gaga's Favorite Chicago Spots
  • About Dad Time
    • Despicable Me 4 - Editor's Review
    • chicagoland summer activities for kids
    • Kung Fu Panda 4 - Editor's Review
    • Chicagoland Kid-Friendly Events in March
    • Spring break ideas for a chicago staycation
    • Visit St. Charles this February